Band complications, help!

[alexis l 0]

So I was banded about 7 years ago. I haven't been filled in probably 5 or 6 years and haven't had any problems with my band until now. My band barely lets me eat anything, everything gets stuck. I hate to say it but Im starting to throw up a lot. I get a burning sensation in my stomach sometimes when I eat. The new thing that started about a week ago is acid reflux at night with a lot of gurgling and discomfort. It wakes me up in the middle of the night and lasts a few hours. I take tums but that doesn't work. I also wake up to a slight cough and random hiccups. My port area isn't sore. I don't know what's going on and can't get into the doctor until Tuesday. Has anyone else had this problem years after being banded?

[KateP 359]

See your doctor, your band is much too tight. It is very common for scar tissue to build up over time causing the band to tighten. This has happened to me twice. I am paranoid about being too tight and so both times I went to my doctor at the first sign of mild heartburn. Both times a tiny amount of saline out solved the orobkem and still left me with enough restriction.

The build up of scar tissue is one of the things we were not waened about when I was banded in 2006, maybe doctors simply didn't know about it. But it seems to be one of the most common issues.

[lisacaron 5,075]

@@alexis l I hope you can get into the Dr. quickly. In the mean time my friend, move to a liquid diet until then. You want to try and minimize the throwing up and re-flux issue you are having as those things can be very damaging to your internal organs.

If you can call the Dr. and let them know you are having this reflux at night and see if they can prescribe some medication for you to take to ease the symptoms and protect your esophagus and stomach.

Get a liquid medication if you can so you don't have to swallow the pills. Tums is not going to work you need a prescription medication. Dr. can call that into the pharmacy for you till you can get to the office.

As @@KateP said it could be scar tissue causing tightness and/or it could be irritation from food you have eaten, allergy, and now trauma from throwing up and reflux. So take it easy, go on liquids and rest your throat and tummy for a few days till you see the Dr.

Please take care of yourself and let us know how you are doing.

[alexis l 0]

Today has been really bad. I can't even keep smoothies down. This has never happened before

[KateP 359]

Today has been really bad. I can't even keep smoothies down. This has never happened before

Can you keep liquid down? If not, this is an emergency. Either see your bariatric doctor today or go to ER. If you can keep liquids down, it is still urgent but not an emergency. Dehydration is very serious and happens very quickly.

Getting this much worse so quickly may mean you have a slipped band.

[alexis l 0]

I'm pretty convinced it has slipped. Everything was normal last week.i was up throughout the night with a constant burning sensation in my upper abdomen and reflux. The weirdest part is I feel food getting stuck much lower in my stomach. Usually I feel it at the top. If that makes sense

[parisshel 1,892]

Def. sounds like a band slip. Please get in and been seen ASAP. And let us know....feel better soon.

[KateP 359]

My very best wishes